Fenelon Falls Celebrates Canada’s Centennial, 1967
In the 1960s, Fenelon Falls residents were very involved in their community. There was a lot of civic and national pride. Many older residents could remember when Great Britain would make far reaching decisions on Canada’s behalf—for instance going to war. Many of the community’s leading citizens were veterans, who had risked their lives for values like freedom. It would be another 15 years before Canada patriated its constitution. Today, many people take government and their country for granted. But in the 1960s, Fenelon Falls residents had a different sense of respect for their country.
As Canada’s Centennial was approaching, a committee formed to co-ordinate celebrations for the village, and practically every local organization took part—imagine having that level of engagement today! Celebrations began at midnight on New Years’ with a service of meditation and praise at the United Church—back then most people when to church. In mid-January, the village gathered for “the great ceremony of the Burning of the Christmas trees,” as the Rotary Club fed the flames for hours with the village’s withering evergreens.
Fenelon Falls’ Thursday (Book) Club sponsored a book week, where children from Fenelon Falls Public School (then located beside the United Church) dressed up as popular book titles: “Alice in Wonderland” (Mary Rose Graham) – “Heidi” (Julie McNamara) – Minehaha (Cindy Stephenson) – “Anne of Green Gables (Marianne McConnell) – “Hiawatha” (Roger McInnis) – “Huckleberry Finn” (Peter Swanson) – “Tiny Tim” complete with crutches (Phil Baker). The Public School also put on pageants, re-enacting the birth of the nation, while the High School made centennial signs. The Curling Club put on a bonspiel, the Anglican Church had a turkey supper, the United Church a Gingham Fair, and the Salvation Army brought in a Toronto band for concerts. The agricultural society put on a display of horses, quilts, home baking and flowers. The Museum hosted a garden party. But the highlight of the centennial was Canada Day.
On July 1 there was a “Monster Parade” with 32 floats, including the Rotary Club’s model of the steamer Wacouta, which even had a steam whistle. The Boy Scouts created a model of the first railway engine in Fenelon Falls. Many of those attending dressed in historic costume, and the attendees could be as much of a show as those participating in the parade on Colborne Street. Imagine the ruckus it would cause today if Colborne Steet were closed on Canada Day for a parade! In the evening, Fenelon Township and Fenelon Falls worked together to put on a fireworks display at Lakeshore (now Garnet Graham) Park. 1967 truly was a year of Celebration in Fenelon Falls.
